While working in the corporate world, Ruth Besson ’21 decided she wanted more from her career. “I woke up and I was like, ‘I want to be able to craft my own fate. I want to be able to dictate where I work and who I work for.’ I no longer wanted to just settle,” says Besson. “In my mind, I felt that having an MBA would put me in a different category.”
The single mom of three also had a dream of starting her own business. So Besson researched master of business administration degree programs, ultimately applying to three different universities. Within 48 hours of submitting her application for the Wilkes MBA program in the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership, she received a follow-up phone call. “It made me feel like Wilkes actually cares about the applicants. They took the time to help me understand the school, the program, the curriculum, everything,” says Besson. “It was amazing.”
Besson also interviewed for a graduate assistant position in the office of Abel Adekola, dean of the College of Business and Engineering. “That was really a dream come true,” says Besson. “I was able to pursue my MBA and not have to worry about student loans. That opportunity was really a blessing.”
Adekola was thrilled to welcome Besson, who already had professional experience but wanted something more. “We were able to meet her at that nucleus moment,” says Adekola. “We were able to meet her, support her and convince her that she could do it and that she would while she was here with us.”
The high-level business knowledge Besson gained in the MBA program came with a 50 percent increase in her earning potential. “I gave up two years to get my MBA, but the reward, the earning potential, it’s been amazing,” says Besson. “And those four semesters went by really quick.”
Though the MBA gave Besson the tools she needed to climb the corporate ladder, she dreamed of owning her own business. So, she took her dream, her newfound business skills and her long-time passion for fashion and launched Unique Style Design. The online boutique takes a creative, personal and affordable approach to fashion. “What makes my approach different is that I’ve always believed that you can look good without going broke,” says Besson. “A lot of the items that I sell are very, very reasonable, but they’re high-quality items. I highlight that I can put a whole outfit together under $100.”
Besson decided to add to her business’s personal touch by opening a brick-and-mortar location in Lititz, Pennsylvania, in November 2024. The expansion was a big chance at a time when so much commerce happens online. “I really wanted to take a leap of faith and share my passion for presenting things you don’t find in traditional, big box retail,” says Besson.
The store has become a destination, with shoppers willing to drive out of the way for the personal touch. Besson has noticed a difference in the target customers between the online and brick-and-mortar store. Those shopping in person tend to have more conservative tastes, while the online shoppers tend to be a little more daring with their fashion choices. “You have to be able to listen to meet the needs of the customers,” says Besson. “It’s understanding what customers want and understanding that you have to be able to shift and pivot to meet their needs. We don’t have to look the same or dress the same. It’s okay to be different.”
As a business owner, each day is different for Besson. And it’s a good thing she loves hats, because she wears all of them and wears them well with the skills she learned in the MBA program. “You’re your own advertising agency, your own admin, your own accountant, your own content creator, your own everything,” she says. “Having your own business, you really are everything.”
In addition to the skills she uses every day, the MBA gave Besson the confidence to take a chance on her talent for helping others coordinate the perfect outfit for any occasion. For Adekola, helping students build that belief in themselves is a vital part of the MBA experience. “It serves as a lesson for us too. When students come here, they come with different mindsets,” says Adekola. “We should always be there to solidify their confidence, or, for those who don’t have the confidence, to help them build it up.”
Besson’s just as thrilled to share her appreciation for the entrepreneurial know-how she gained at Wilkes as she is to share her fashion sense. “If you are truly passionate, find a way to make it work. Don’t be afraid to pivot. And don’t be afraid to fail,” Besson says. “You’re pushed to where you think it’s your limit, but you realize that, wow, you can do so much more.”
All business programs in the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership are AACSB accredited.
